Viona Elizabeth Budge

Viona Elizabeth Wuthrich Budge

 Born: 11 June 1934 Montpelier, Bear Lake County, Idaho

Died: 20 January 2025 Salem, Utah County, Utah

Viona Elizabeth Wuthrich Budge died peacefully in her sleep on January 20, 2025, after gracefully enduring a long struggle with dementia. 

Viona was born in 1934 to Edward Barnard Wuthrich and Maud Caroline Nelson. She was raised in Montpelier, Idaho as the youngest of 6 children: JeNeil Ruth Wuthrich Keefer, Polly Cheryl Wuthrich Humburg, Mark Edward Wuthrich, Earl Nelson Wuthrich, Carl Samuel Wuthrich. She worked hard and played hard in her youth, delivering papers from the back of a dog-drawn sled, working at the local theater, and ice skating on flooded and frozen fields. 

On July 3, 1953, she married Harold Spencer Budge in the Logan Utah Temple. She followed him through his service in the US Army, stationed at Fort Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska. She loved their service as missionaries in the local LDS Branch. She supported her husband in his educational pursuits as they took the Budges from Utah State to BYU, Stanford, the University of Utah, and returning again to Stanford and finally BYU for Harold’s doctorate and professorship. Viona and Harold planted their roots in Orem, Utah, buying their first home and raising their family of 5 children. 

Viona continued to work hard as a wife and mother, while also dedicating 20 years of service as Personnel Manager at ZCMI. She balanced a successful and professional manner with her signature grace, always known for her kindness and willingness to give someone a chance as a new employee. 

Upon retiring, she and Harold moved to Mapleton, Utah, where she lived a vibrant and active life. She loved rockhounding, ice skating, photographing antelope, and eating dark chocolate cake, ice cream, and candy bars. Harold built her fires, grew her roses, and sent her paper plate love letters. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren benefitted from her love and wit, as she was generous with her time and attention for them. 

Viona was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in myriad callings including her favorite—serving with her husband in the Anchorage, Alaska CES Mission. Following the death of her beloved Harold in 2008, Viona developed a deeper passion for family history as she taught others the joy of doing their own ancestry work. She constantly bore her sweet but simple testimony of Heavenly Father’s love for her. She knew Jesus Christ was her Savior and Redeemer.

 Viona is survived by her children, Pam (Tom) Tippetts, Mapleton, UT; Jan (Kimball) Hansen, Thatcher, AZ; Kathy Budge Cardon, Mapleton, UT; Cyril Budge (deceased); Edward (Patti) Budge, Mapleton, UT; 19 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren. 

Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 24, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the Eagle Rock Chapel, Mapleton 21st Ward, at 825 E. Hawks Rest Drive, Mapleton, Utah. There will be a viewing prior to the service from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in the Paris City Cemetery, Paris, Idaho. 

The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to The Beehive House of Salem, UT, and other professional caregivers for their support and assistance over the past several months.

 Condolences may be expressed to the family on this page.